VOL TWENTY-SIX " " FABMVILLK. PITT COUNTY NOBTH CABOUNA, FBIpXY, PEBBLY %1M7. NUMBER THIBTY-TBItVB ^ "r ' jg , ' M. G. Mann Addresses Pitt County Farmers JL. - ' Urge Growers of Princi pal Crops to Co-oper ate in Controlling Price and Production Greenville, Feb. 23.?The one-third of the American people who live on the farm receive only one-tenth of the Nation's income, M. G. Mann, general manager of the State's two largest farm co-operatives declared here today, as he stressed the neces sity for farmers "to co-operate in order to receive what is rightfully theirs." "The only hope for our farmers to receive their true share of the Na tion's income," he declared, "is for them to organize and through co operative marketing receive the high dollar for the products they have for sale, and through co-operative pur chasing accure, at a reasonable mar gin and of a known quality, the sup plies they have to buy." Mr. Mann, who is general manager of the Fanners Cooperative Exchange and of the N. C. Cotton Growers Co operative Association, which was held jointly in the Greenville Court House here Tuesday. In the morning of the same day at 10:30 A. M., Mr. Mann addressed a similar meeting in the Ayden Com munity Building. Declaring that "we are making progress, but slowly," Mr. Mann pointed to the increasing interest of farmers in working together. "Today there are some 10,500 farm co-opera tive purchasing and marketing as sociations in the United States, to say nothing of the co-operative Pro duction Credit Associations," Mr. Mann said. He pointed out that during the brief span of time the co-operative idea has been in practice in America it has sddenly gained in favor, until today approximately 20% of the prod ucts sold from the farm are market- j ed co-operatively, while 12% of the J farm supplies are purchased co-1 operatively. Turning to the Farmers Coopera tive Exchange, he declared that the sole reason for its organization was to aid farmers in obtaining open formula fertilizers and feed manu factured according to formulas rec ommended by authorities at State College and to assist farmers in ob taining seed of known origin. "It is neither the aim nor the intent of the FCP to put any manufacturer or mervchant out of business," Mr. Mann declared, "but it does seek to regulate the margin of profit and the quality of goods sold. "The FCX sells for cash only and when a farmer is willing, like any other business man, to go to his local bank or his Production Credit Asso ciatioh and secure operating capital he has a right to expect to purchase at a smaller margin of profit than the man who insists on buying on a credit basis and continuing to give crop liens and chattel mortgages." ? He declared that farmers of the State should take a pardonable pride in the fact that during its first thirty months of operation their own orga nization has done a business of more than $4,000,000 and has forged ahead until it is one of the 29 purchasing co-operatives in the Nation now doing a business of more than a million dollars annually. Recounting how the FCX was with out one dollar of capital stock Mr. Mann said that through subscriptions of stock by farmers themselves and savings made through large-scale group purchasing the FCX has built up a capital and undistributed proft in excess of $43,000. As the great est compliment that has come to farmers who ? Save made the FCX possible, he cited the fact that local banks and the bank for co-operatives have granted it a line of credit oi $200,000. He plead with listeners to staci by their own organization and pur chase at least a part of their sup plies co-operatively in order that th< FCX. may have a sufficient volum< to carry on and to continue its ser tn Pitt Countv farmers. Turning: to cotton and the Cotton Association, Mr. Mann expressed fear that acreage would be increased this year and urged every fanner who wants a profit from his cotton to plant only the best seed possible in order that he may produce a staple that will demand a premium when it is sold. He fully explained the operation of the Cotton Association, which is now in its fifteenth year of service and pointed to the confidence placed in it by the banks of the state which now lend it millions of dollars an nually at the lowest interest rate in its history. wPo_Pnw>Ji??(i PooL" inanmi AUV MV * m? ? ? 7 w ? rated two yean ago, enables any far mer to know as much about the true value of his cotton as the man who is buying it, Mr. Mann pointed out. All cotton handled through the Cet tou Association is graded under the supervision of a government licensed ilawer and the fanner is noticed of its few grade end etaple, along with the value of the cotton, but the "Re Purchase Pool" goes a step further and provides that the delivering far mer may ask for prices elsewhere and if he is offered more for his cotton on the outside than he is quoted by the co-operative, he can get it back and sell it to the one offering the most money. "Truly, the Re-Purchase Pool plan guarantees farmers who use it the Ugh dollar for their cotton crop," WW? . WW ? J ^ il JmTi MiHfl QfCllTvu# a???? i ? M. G. Mann of Raleigh, General Manager of the State's two largest farm cooperatives addressed a meet ing of farmers in Greenville, Tuesday, February 23rd, at 2:00 p. m. Propose Levy Franchise Tai i Proposal Allows Cities To Tax Telephone Ex changes Greenville, Feb. 24.?Although a state law at present prohibits cities from levying a franchise tax on telephone exchanges, a measure in troduced in the Senate yesterday by Senator E. G. Flanagan and others would permit such a privilege. The proposed measure is attracting much atention in Greenville as the Carolina Telephone company at pres ent is negotiating with the Board of Aldermen in regard to renewal of its franchise, which expired three years ago. The state levies a six per cent tax | on the gross incomes of the various I telephone companies operating in I North Carolina, but bans any towns I from placing such a tax on the com panies. The proposal would allow cities in which exchanges are located to levy a one per cent gross income tax. Asheville collects such a tax under a franchise issued some years ago to the Southern Bell Company and Hickory levies the assessment under the local law passed by the General Assembly, Senator Flanagan declared in offering his measure. The bill was referred to the Com mittee on Public Utilities and a pub lic hearing was set for Friday morn ing at ten o'clock in the offices of the State Utilities commission, i Although the measure is expected to encounter stiff opposition from the telephone companies, it has the support of the League of Municipali ties, the legislative committee of which met yesterday and discussed the bill. Mayor M. K. Blount is a member of the committee and de clared that the entire committee per sonnel was behind the proposal whereby the cities could collect a franchise tax from the telephone companies. WHO KNOWS? 1. What was the cost of t?e new Supreme Court building? 2. How many national banks have failed in the last year? 3. What is meant by the Great Plains area? 4. How many Indians are there in the United States? 5. Is there a Buddhist temple in the United States? ?? * ?- ' It-- 1- -* L b. W nai IS me nigneoi, apcvu Ui \ wind? 7. What proportion of farmers in the United States own their land? 8. What was the Dred Scott decis ion? 9. Is basketball played in China ? 10. What is the meaning of the 1 phrase "ad valorem"? (See Answers on Page Four) SHOOTS SELF TO AVOID FREEZING TO DEATH Carson City, Nev.?Leaving his wife and 2-year-old daughter in their snow-bound automobile, Earl la Near, went in search of aid. His body was found ten days later and evidence points to the fact that he shot him self to avoid death by freezing and exhaustion. His wife and child were rescued after spending nine days in their automobile. National Defense (Presented at A. L. A. Meeting) February, with its patriotic holi day?22nd?Washington's birthday? the birthday of the Father of our country?has been very appropriate ly designed as the month for em phasis on National Defense and Americanism, by the American Le gion Auxiliary. What is National Defense? When we speak the words we think first of all of armies and navies, but there is more included in "National De fense" than militarism, as we shall see in pursuing this study. When rightly understood the expression ? ?? -11 .'mrw.U,T.CT JN SQOI181 1/916110C 19 OU iiu|rvtuu^? It captures the spirit of adventure in youth, and inspires heroic visions for the future. It stirs the patriotic im pulses of those in the prime of life, and translates ideals into protection pf home and native land. It thrills j the aged and brings forth epic tales of battles fought and victories won in the name of American valor. What is National Defense ? Mr. Webster says defense means, "act of defending; state of being defend ed; that which defends or protects; guard; art or skill in making de fense." Of course you all know that the word "national" relates to the nation. So National Defense means guarding or protecting the nation. Anything which has a tendency to under-mine or overthrow our govern ment is not guarding anil protecting our nation. But, says one, does not the United States Government pro tect and defend the nation? Yes, but under our present 1 .vs the gov ernment can take action only when extreme violence is attempted. I beard a very fine address some years ago, and I shall never forget one of the illustrations the speaker used to show how seemingly small things can undermine and finally overthrow. He said there was once a very fine old chair in which some little white ants took up their abode. For a long time they were un-noticed, but they were eating away, until I finally one day the fne old chair col lapsed. Friends, are not the Com munists, Pacifists, Atheists, and others working like those little ants and termites to undermine and over throw our Government and our na tion? The chief objective of the so-called radical activities in this country is j to over-throw constitutional govern ment, and they have various methods of doing so. First, they plan the destruction of the home; second, the destruction of religion; third, the rla<r+inis>H/\n <vf nnfa'nnftl patriotism; UCOW^UVMVM ... and foruth, the destruction of nation al defense. They are very wise in planning the destruction of the home, for the home is the foundation of property owner ship, and for that reason is antago nistic to the theories of both Social ism and Communism. The destruc tion of the home is to be accomplish ed through breaking down the mar riage relation; through laxity in mar riage and divorce laws; through ad vocacy of free love; through promo tion of immoral literature, plays, and motion pictures and through teaching children diisrespect for their parents, teachers, and all others in authority. With the exception of extremely immoral plays and motion pictures in violation of State laws, and with the exception of sending very immoral literature through the U. S. mails, those in favor of wreck ing the home can agitate for corn nan innate marriage and for weaken ing marriage and divorce laws, and realize that the Government it power less to prevent it. Coordinating with the home, re ligion is the greatest stabilizing in fluence in the country, and it is natural that the radical should choose the destruction of religion as his second minor objective. This is to be accomplished by prohibiting the use of the Bible, the Lord's Prayer, or other religious instruc tion in schools and colleges; by cre ating and supporting dissensions among the various branches of the hv cmitinr organizations Tor the propagation of Atheism. The j Constitution of the United States , assures to every citizen the right to j worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience. That for j which our forefathers fought and < died?religious liberty; therefore , while Government officials realise that the spread of Atheism and the , abolition of religion will utimately have a very bad effect upon the stability of our country, yet the Government is poweress to act It is said that Alexander the Great always took with him a copy of Homer, and as long as be did this he was victorious. As long as the. Grades had the Status of Pallas for. their inspiration, they too wars victorious; and as long as the homes, schools and churches of America keep, the Holy Bible, America's Palladium, upon their altars, America will be victorious, and con tinue-to bess the world. But the Atheists would have us discard God's (Continued en page she) Senate Votes Te Keep Levy In All Meets Revenue Bill Passed On Final Reading by Vote of 41-3; Senate on Way To Conference Raleigh, Flab. 24.?Senators refus ed again today to take the sales tax off meals in public eating places and then passed the biennial revenue bill and sent it to the house for con currence in amendments. The senate finance chaiman, Webb "* T -??* ItAnoa nrAiilH oi jueaivrf pmutwu tw> uviuv .. reject senate charges and require a conference to iron out differences. Final passage was by a 41-3 vote, with Senators Brok of Davie, Long of Halifax and Ewing of Cumberland, opposing the measures designed to raise $76,000,000 for the general fund during the 1937-3$ biennium. The senators debated for more than an hour after Senator Johnston of Buncombe renewed this motion to strike out the tax on meals, and then refused 25 to 21 to do so. Gold of Guilford said "the director of the budget (Governor Hoey) has business and political desires to take the tax off meals" and other senators argued the Democratic party had pledged removal of the present three per cent levy. Ingram of Randolph, Hill of Dur ham and others, however, argued the party had also pledged the removal of the sales tax from all necessities of life and had left it on many of them. House members worked out various committee reports for more than 70 bills to the legislative floors for ac tion. Miss Larson Speaks Second Public Forom On Tuesday night, February 23, at 8:00 o'clock the second Public Forum was held in the high school auditorium. Miss Elsie Larson, who is on leave of absence from her wofk with the Rockefeller Foundation to meet with forum groups, led the dis cussion in "Mental Hygiene," Miss Larson had as her subject "Mental Hygiene, a community Problem." Since the forum work was begun,] Miss Larson has led thirteen groups and has spoken at a number of special meetings. Everywhere the li?? Koon favorable, and ?V?VWVi| l*>? w?? here the meeting proved quite suc cessful. In her duscussion Miss Larson, with particular reference to North Caro lina's institutions for and care of those who are mentally ill, gave the history of her subject She also reviewed some of the recommenda tions made to North Carolina for a more efficient operation of the sys tem which has control of the care of the mentally ill. Of particular interest was that part of her discussion which dealt with community problems and preventive measures. In connection with the community problems Miss Larson discussed for the group the child as a part of the family. She called to attention personality and intellectural differences and adjustments neces sary for mental health and happiness. Included in this was a discussion of invenile ronrta anrf the URP of train ing schools as corrective resorts. In her discussion of preventive measures the forum leader mentioned psychia tric clinics and leisure time activities. This discussion of mental hygiene as a way of thinking and living, was very enlightening, and Miss Larson's treatment of her subject was most interesting. At the conclusion of the speech the meeting was, customarily, opened for questions on and discussions qf any field of the subject in which those of the audience might be interested These public forums will be con tinued through June, and it is heart ily urged that all citizens of Farm idlle attend, for they are proving both instructive and interesting. A list of topics and speakers for Forum units which has been selected For this distict, will be published in these columns next week, and any preferences by citizens should be in dicated and turned in to the Advisory Board, of which Superintendent J. H. Moore is a member. BAINS MOLASSES Atchison, Kan.?It rained molaasea the other day when an employe of a mumfM^hiy company twtf* the wrong valve, causing steam pressure to spray molasses from a pipe on the roof. Houses and streets for blocks were covered. Five Nash County farmers have agreed to run five-year crop rota tions on thair and to keen records on the results. c. Washington Farm News Precarious farming 3,000,000 tenants 1,500,000 mortgages seeking a remedy low living scale For many years the idea has been prevalent in the United States that the backbone of the country was made up of contented agricultural families, living a life of liberty and independence on land which they worked for a livelihood. Today, the records show that only one-fourth of the farmers of the nation hold unen cumbered titles to the land they tin. Half of our farmers are tenants and half of those listed as owners of land retain possession under the threat of foreclosure if they fail to meet pay ments coming due. Just when the change occurred, no one can say, but that it was accelerated during the twenties is not disputed. Last week President Roosevelt call ed for a nationwide program, under Federal leadership and with the as sistance of states, counties, communi ties an individuals, to do something to restore the security of individual farm ownership. Callng attention to the increase in the number of new tenants for the past ten years, about 40,000 a year, the President pointed out that many owners have been slip ping ino the tenant class and that hundreds of thousands considered owners are as insecure as tenants be cause they own, on the average, only forty-two per cent, of their farm land and, in some of our best farming sec tions including some of the states settled under the homestead system a little more than a generation ago, as little as one-fifth. hfr. Roosevelt submitted to Con gress the report of $ committee which had beep appointed several months ego to study the problem and recom mend effective remedial measures, Secretary Wallace and congressional leaders have been studying the problem for some time and hearings have been conducted for several weeks on the $500,000,000 tenanted bill proposed by Chairman Jonea of the House Agricultural Committee and Senator Bankhead of Alabama, The President's committee proposes to check speculation in land by a special tax to take a large percentage of profits from sales of land made within three yeaft after Its purchase. The idea is to stop the process by which many American farmers have gone into debt to buy more land during periods of high prices only to lose all their holdings when depres sion knocks the props from land vaues. This }s the most revolutionary suggestion made, as most of the oth ers relate to matters already discuss ed. The Government Is urged to pur chase good farm land, for sale on lib eral terms to selected tenants, to make loans to prevent small farm owners i?a)nor tKpfr land. and to CO iiUU* operate with the States in the pur chase of about 100,000,000 acres of poor crop land, to be retired from crop use, Stnte legislation is also urged to improve the leasing system and to encourage tenants to take care of lands and provide proper compen sation for improvements and to im prove living quarters of itinerant farm laborers. There would be cre ated a Farm Security Administration to handle the Federal program. The committee reported that "rural civilization is threatened with deca dence" and urged that steps be taken to safeguard civil liberties of ten ants. The report mentioned that the Federal Reserve Board and the Farm "The extreme poverty of one-fifth < to one-foorth of the farm population 1 reflects itself in a standard of living 1 below any level of decenecy," the re port said. "In many areas, particular ly in the South, families are living in conditions of poverty, little if any above the lowest peasantry of Eur- 1 ope." The Eskimo population is decreas ing. Still Firm Dttt Gnt By$680,3H Resettlement Has Aided 745 Farmers Owning 94,379 Acres, Report Shows Washington, Feb. 24.?A total of 49,344 debt-ridden farmers through out the country have been aided through the farm debt adjustment services of the Resettlement Admin istration in the 17 months ended Jan uary 31, C. B. Baldwin, acting ad ministrator announced today. In a great many of these cases fore closures or forced sales were pre vented, he said. North Carolina 'showed in this program to a very large extent. Analyzing the latest figures ob tainable, Mr. Baldwin disclosed that farm debts amounting to $160,054,737 have been reduced to $119,054,716 through efforts of the voluntary farm 1 1 1 _ Jf A A 'U. 1_ aeDC aajusimenc commiiiees wont-1 ing under Resettlement Administra-1 tion supervision. In addition to the principal reduction amounting to over $41,000,000, or 25.6 per cent, adjustments were made through a reduction in the rate of interest or an extension of time in which debts could be repaid. "Our records show that on Febru ary, 1, 24,500 debt adjustment cases were pending, Indicating that the work will gq forward vigorously fn the coming months, Mr, Baldwin said that as a result of 1? months of farm debt adjust ment work a total of $2,924,640 in back taxes has been paid to local governments. The record for North Carolina shows that the cases of 746 farmers owning 94,379 acres of land were voluntarily adjusted during the 17 month period, with the debts re duced from $2,344,800 to $1,655,433, a reduction of $689,377. The adjust ments resulting in payment of $65, 399 in local taxes, On February 1 there were 824 cases still pending in North Caro lina, ? ,wm?? ? 1 Mountain farmers say the $20 al- I lowance for small farms under the i 1937 farm program will give them a i better chance to improve their farms i than under the 1936 program. I Credit Administration "were well | aware of the angers" of widespread | land speculation and were in position < to do something about it, but felt that ( further restraint was needed, and : therefore, proposed the windfall tax on ( the sale of land within three years of being acquired by the seller. The re- j port went into every phase of the j tenancy problem, and the moral, men- , tal, physical, social and economic re- , suits of the farming system, particu- . larly that of the South. j Tobacco Compact Bill Tied To Court Proposal Governor Rivers and Others Think Com pact Legislation Is Dead So Far As Geor gia Is Concerned Raleigh, Feb. 24.?It may seem a far cry, but to many the fate of to bacco compacts legislation and tobac co control in general now appears to be all bound up with President Roose velt's proposal to increase the Su- ' preme Court membership from nine to fifteen. This comes about from the fact that there now seems to be no earthly chance for cooperation between the tobacco-growing states in compact legislation and from the further fact that the Supreme court as presidency instituted has already ruled that the Federal government ?o proper sphere of action in the premises. Henre it nnw nnnpard that unlpiu there is reorganiizaton of the court, there will be no chance for federal legislation which would stand up, and it further appears that there must be Federal legislation or there will be no tobacco control. Inasmuch as most farm experts are agreed that there must be tobacco ' control or the farmers will face ruin, Jiere seems to be every incentive for ;he tobacco farmers to get vigorously >ehind President Roosevelt in his push to overturn the old judicial or ier which has so effectively blocked ;very effort to enact legislation real ly beneficial to the farmers. When North Carolina's legislature :onvened in January chances for leg slation by this state, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia seemed to hinge argely upon the willingness of North Carolina to participate and co-oper ite. But strange to relate, the three lorthern states of the four needed for :ooperation came through in fine style only to have Georgia block the , whole project. Of course the Cracker state's law makers are still in ses :inri onil thoro in a "hiniv that they will finally fall in line for :obacco control, but Governor Ed Riv ers and othere, who ought to know, lave announced their belief that com pact legislation is dead so far as Georgia is concerned. There appears to be only one really /alid reason for this state of affaire, hat is the threat of Florida to enter he tobacco-growing field on a large scale. Georgia growers have been scared out of their wits by these threats. Of course there are reports that 1 the Atlantic Coast Line railroad has jeen fighting against compact laws in Georgia, but these reports have been afficially denied and there is small reason to think that these efforts, even if made, were decisive. The weak point of compact legis lation by states lies in the invitation It holds out to other states, previously now; in the tobacco-growing class, to get into the business on a large scale wherever the soil permits. No matter bow many states join in the compacts Khero will nlwnvR he one or mora bor der states which will immediately throw everything out of kilter by en try into the growing of tohacco. And so it seems clear that there must be something in the nature of federal legislation. North Carolina farm leaders have not yet conceded that there is no chance of state com pacts, and therefore have made no announcement of the course they will;, follow when the chance fades. They will soon be faced with that failure all signs indicate. Then they will be forced to get behind a plan to reor ganize the federal judiciary ao that Laws like the- AAA will have a chance to be declared valid. RELIEF FUND REACHES $691 The local Red Cross fund for the '? relief of flood sufferers, was in creased this week. With a quota of $200 Farmville went over the top the first day after the call was sounded, and the total to date is $601.36. The campaign for funds is not bo active but contributors continue to do their bit and make donations, which are desperately nde^ed in the flooded areas, as the first estimate of rehabilitation was found to be far short of what win be actually need ed. Contributions received since the list was printed are as follows: Paramount Theatre $6.00 Marcellus Smith ?... ;? 6.90 Young Woman's Circle Meth odist Church 6.90 * V S. T. Lewis 2J?0 ' Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Gates 8.00 Donations in boxes at stations 6.20 Miss Alice Dale . 1j00 i . i. . *: hi WILL JUSTIFY BUILDING Buffalo.?Built 10 yean ago over dry land, a bridge will soon have water flowing under it when -a reeefr is diverted as a flood pioionHn measure. Uniforms For lobbyists Called For By Proposal Raleigh, Feb. 24.?Judge F. H. Brooks, in a moment of levity, has introduced a bill which if enacted would bring thousands of persons to Raleigh during the legislative session just to see the show. His measure calls for uniforms for lobbyists and prescribes certain cere monies they must observe in ap proaching a Senator. Here's what could be seen if the bill weer to become a law: (1) Murray Allen (Railroad Lobby ist) wearing1 overalls, carrying an oil can, switch lanten and wearing his hat backwards. JTrtVn Slrinnsr. secretary of \ ** / VVMM -m? ?? r ? v the N. C. Association of county com missi oners and Pat Healy, ditto for the Municipal League (Tax Lobby ists) carrying picks and hods on their hacks. (3) Dr. Frank Graham, president i of the University of North Carolina, and Charlie Woolen (University Lob byists) wearing coat ,and gown coon skin coats, smoking long pipes and carrying canes with ribbons on them. (4) Grady Rankin, general counsel for Duke.-, power company (Public Utilities Lobbyist) canning a water faucet in one hand and a hand teel phone set in the ether; ' < (6) Paul Brown, secretary of the N. C. Association of Bankers (Bank Lobbyist) wearing an old gold uni form and having a glass eye. (6) John Umstead, counsel for the Jefferson Standard Life (Insurance Lobbyist) wearing rubber coat, high boots and a fireman's bonnet. (7) Fred Bowman, counsel for the N. C. Pharmaceutical Association (Pharmacist Lobbyist) wearing a white uniform and carrying a tray of lettuce sandwiches. (8) Dr. B. J. Lawrence (Medical Lobbyist) wearing an interne's uni form stamped with skull and cross bones and carrying a stethoscope arid bottle of smelling salts. (9) Cale K. Bugess (Liquor Lob byist) wearing a large white apron 1 ? ? I H . . ? V ana noops, resemming a Deer oarrei, carrying liquor at least 15 years old. (10) Malcolm McQueen, former Senator (Slot Machine Lobbyist) wearing a pea-green suit and carry ing a minature slot machine. (11) Dick Fountain (Pyrotechnic Lobbyist) wearing a solid red suit with red cap and white horns (to re semble the figure on can of Red Devil lye) and wearing a package of fire crackers on a watch fob. These persons are not named by name in the bill, but they are cited herein as izamples of the type of lob byist for whom these uniforms are prescribed in Judge Brooks' miasurs.

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